THE WEEK OVER THE WORLD

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21974, 24 December 1936, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE WEEK OVER THE WORLD

EARTHQUAKE IN SALVADOR

San Vincente, a city withj a population of 25,000 in the lake region of Salvador, Central America, was destroyed last week by the combined effects of an earthquake and the eruption of the volcano on San Vincente. The earthquake occurred in the middle of the night during a procession in honour of San Vincente, the patron saint of the district. The total number of deaths in the city is said to be 250, and the number of injured 1000. Thousands are homeless; they are receiving food and shelter at hospitals, schools and public buildings at San Salvador. Food in Germany Christmas is likely to be Germany's last opportunity of unrestricted feasting for some time. Herr Hitler has sent out huge crimson placards to be displayed throughout Germany instructing housewives to register their requirements of butter, lard, margarine, dripping, suet and oils. This is the first step taken towards the fulfilment of the four-year self-sufficiency plan. Rationing will begin on January 1, and Nazi officers are at present taking a house-to-house census in order to discover the needs of each family.

SIR lAN FRASER

A Broadcasting Appointment Sir lan Fraser, a blind member of the British House of Commons, has been appointed t governor of the British Broadcasting

Corporation. He was a member of the Broadcasting Committee of Enquiry, (19251926). He is a member of the council of the National Institute for the Blind, and governor of Worcester College for the Blind.

CHINA'S LEADER

Trouble for the Nanking Government , General Chiang Kai-shek is still confined at Sianfu, the rebel headquarters in the province of Shansi. The leader of the revolt in the army, Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, is seemingly still pressing General Chiang for

the terms he demanded—that is for an immediate advance of Chinese troops against the Japanese in north China, and an alliance with Russia. In a broadcast speech the Marshal said: "The only course left to China in the international sphere is co-operation with Russia. As long as Marshal Chiang Kai-shek opposes these demands I will detain him in Sianfu, but I personally guarantee his safety." A relative of General Kai-shek, Mr T. V. Soon, and his Australian journalist adviser, Mr W. H. Donald, flew to Sianfu recently and reported on their return to Nanking that Chiang was well, and that they were hopeful of an early agreement to be made between the two leaders. But other reports suggest that the Government authorities are not prepared to recognise any message which seems to come from Chiang while he is in captivity. Rebel forces and Government troops have now been fighting for a week in the north-west areas. The lastest messages report fighting at Lan-Chow, the capital of the Kansu province. This city has a population of more than 400,000, and is on the banks of the Whang-ho river at the southern bend shown in the map on this page. On the left side of the river the Great Wall of China runs for many miles along the banks at this part. Expensive Shoes M. Pierre Yantorny, the manufacturer of the world's most expensive shoes and boots, died in Paris last week. "Though he charged £SO for a pair of £hoes he did not leave a fortune. .. >

CHINESE RAILWAY LINES

Two German Contracts It is announced that a group of Rhineland steel firms have secured two big Chinese railway contracts. The first is for the construction of a new line between Chuchow and Kweiyang, costing £1,875,000. The second is for the repair of the Peking-Hankow railway, at a cost of £625,000. The first line between Chuchow and Kweiyang will, be .on the main road from Peking to Burma; the second runs through the country where fighting is now going on between Government and rebel troops. Empire Flying-Boats Successful The Caledonia, the first of the Imperial Airways flying-boats to be fitted for experimental long-range Atlantic test flights, created a record for commercial aircraft, frying non-stop from Alexandria to Marseilles, a distance of 1700 miles,-in 11J hours, carrying half a ton of Empire Christmas mails. Christmas Trees for German Children More than 3,000,000 poor children gathered round 23,000 Christmas trees throughout Germany and received gifts from the Government and listened to the broadcast by Dr. P. J. Goebbels, Minister for Propaganda. He told the children that Herr Hitler was the special protector and patron saint of German children.. He said also that the Fatherland would not only call on them for sacrifices in a time of need, but would give them happiness on festive occasions. Australian Air Race The speed section of the Brisbane to Adelaide air race was won by a Queensland pilot, J. W. Collins, who flew a Percival Vega Gull from scratch. C. D. Pratt, of Victoria, was first in the handicap section and third in the speed section. He flew a Klemm Eagle aeroplane. Thirty machines competed in the race; five of these were piloted by women. Miss Freda Thompson, the Australian girl who flew from England to Australia in 1934, competed in the race. Mr H. F. Broadbent, the well-known Australian airman, also competed in the race but was unplaced.

Map showing area of Japanese control and the direction of recent Japanese advances. Marshal Hsueh-liang and his supporters wish to advance north from Peking